Nationally known dancer to make local appearance

By Mark Wiley
Staff Writer

Saturday at the Morton Community Center, dance students, aficionados and the general public can experience the pure movement and timeless vision of ballet legend Isadora Duncan.

Dedicated to keeping the spirit and ideals of Duncan alive, Lori Belilove will recreate Duncan’s breathless beauty in the Isadora Duncan Dance Technique Workshop at the Morton Community Center in West Lafayette.

Duncan, who is considered the most influential dancer of the 20th century, was best known for her beautiful displays of barefoot ballet and flowing fabric during the World War I era, according to Hilary McDaniel-Douglas from Project in Motion dance agency. She said Duncan amazed audiences with an astounding display of self-expressive dance.

A rebel of classic ballet traditions, Duncan was the first to wear toeless shoes, the first not to wear the classic Victorian corset and the first to dance with revolutionary point-work that looked like she was dancing on air.

Despite officials’ complaints about her apparent lack of clothes, the critics and the public adored her as she sold out arenas around the nation and world, according to the Museum of the City of San Francisco's Web site.

Considered a priestess of self-expressive art, she founded several elite dancing schools around the nation. Duncan died in 1927.

Belilove, a nationally renowned dancer, is keeping Duncan’s tradition alive. Belilove is a solo dance artist, choreographer and the leading authority on the Duncan Dance technique.

She has been featured on television, film, video and photo documentaries and performs for international and national audiences.

She founded the Isadora Duncan Foundation for Contemporary Dance in New York City and is a master teacher and faculty member of the Juilliard School, the most famous music, dance and performing arts school in the nation.

"Belilove happened to be coming to Indiana to receive a grant and we were lucky enough to get her," said McDaniel-Douglas. "This will be an incredible opportunity for those interested in dance to experience."

"It’s a great opportunity for our dance students to expand their knowledge about the history of dance," said Brenda Laurens, director of Morton Community Center.

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